Mechanical Models for the Representation of Visco-Elastic Properties

Abstract

Models of varying complexity, built of spring and dashpot elements, are frequently used as a simple means of expressing the relation between a particular component of stress and the corresponding component of strain in a visco-elastic material. It is shown that any such model is equivalent to two alternative spring-dashpot models of canonic form. The exclusive use of models in either of these canonic forms is desirable, since it facilitates the interpretation of behaviour and leads to economy in the number of spring and dashpot elements employed.